British Values
The DfE have recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”
The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated in 2014.
At Shinewater Primary School, we aim to actively promote British values to ensure young people leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to regard people of all faiths, races and cultures with respect and tolerance and understand that while different people may hold different views about what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, all people living in England are subject to its law.
The promotion of British values is central to our curriculum at Shinewater Primary School. Such values are at the core of all we do whether it be through our assemblies, our RE curriculum, our personal, social, health and citizenship lessons or through other areas of the curriculum.
The Key Values are:
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democracy
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rule of law
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individual liberty
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mutual respect
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tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
DEMOCRACY
Shinewater respects democracy. Each year the children decide upon their Jigsaw class charter and the rights associated with these. All the children contribute to the drawing up of the charter.
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. Children have a bi-annual questionnaire with which they are able to put forward their views about the school. Shinewater further promotes democracy through mixed age group gather group assemblies.
THE RULE OF LAW
The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.
Visits from authorities such as the Police and Fire Service help reinforce this message. The school has a robust positive behaviour policy and the children follow the Rainbow Rules.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of learning challenge, or how they record, or participation in our extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.
MUTUAL RESPECT
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect. Our PSHE curriculum based on Jigsaw focuses on “celebrating difference” and “being me in my world.”
TOLERANCE OF THOSE OF DIFFERENT FAITHS & BELIEFS
Shinewater Primary School is a culturally rich and diverse school where children have unique opportunities to learn from each other by sharing and celebrating their different faiths and cultures. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed up and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.
At Shinewater Primary School we will actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values, including ‘extremist’ views.